"An Open Letter from Madonna"

October 18, 2006 03:24:49 GMT

Madonna forcefully defended her adoption of David Banda.

Criticism and protests have been surrounding Madonna's adoption of one-year-old Malawian boy. All in all, the pop superstar breaks her silence, responding for the first time to the many negative speculation, saying adoption was fully legal.

The same day the adopted boy arrived by plane in London on Tuesday Oct 17th, Madonna issued a statement defending her adoption. In the so-called "An Open Letter from Madonna," the singer says "My husband and I began the adoption process many months prior to our trip to Malawi."

"I did not wish to disclose my intentions to the world prior to the adoption happening as this is a private family matter. After learning that there were over one million orphans in Malawi, it was my wish to open up our home and help one child escape an extreme life of hardship, poverty and in many cases death, as well as expand our family."

Previously, some human rights groups are protesting the adoption, claiming Madonna has made use her celebrity status to break the child-adoption regulations judging on how fast she got the temporary custody. But now, with the issued of "Madonna's Open Letter" hopefully everything will get clear.